PourMyOwn

That would be a great rod for Texas rigged tubes, among other things. It's a very versatile rod that could be the rod you use for a bunch of different lures. Only trial and error will tell you for sure, but either way, it's a rod that is worth owning.

I do, I've caught a lot of fish on them over the years. I used to put an Uncle Josh pork chunk on it back when pork was still common. It was also the lure my dad tied on for me when I was 9-10 and learning how to throw a baitcaster. Wind has no effect on Silver Minnows!

I've had to turn three of them into keychains, same issue. It stinks because they do catch fish.

I'm probably with the others- like but not love. I got mine at Dicks on clearance for 50 with a Silver Max that was missing a part. I would like it less had I paid more.

I also have both and think they are great reels. I prefer them to my Shimano SLX, which is sacrilegious according to many. Next spring when the PQ goes back on sale for 50 I plan on buying a few more.

I think you nailed it. I had that problem until I pulled one of my old 5.1 ratio reels out of retirement.

Not yet, I've got about a hundred Paca craws to burn through before I buy anything else. I also pour Yamamoto flappin hogs, which are awesome too. I'll grab a bag next time I place an order though. Thanks!

My favorite bitsy bug trailer by far. Great baits.

Either 10 or 12 for me, I use either Silver Thread or Trilene XL. Both are between .011-.013 diameter.

If it's a tackle box made after 1990, chances are good it is worm proof. I hadn't heard that term in ages!

Non worm proof boxes will react poorly with worms. You'll get a melted worm and a hole in the box.

When I was 13 I threw Mepps spinners and Mister Twisters on ball head jigs and caught tons of bass-then I grew up and got "smart". As most have stated, they are great fish catchers, I should probably dust them off!

I've bought a few used rods off of Ebay, and have been happy. I do agree that much of it is priced at 90% of retail, which is ridiculous.

Since this is an old guy thread, I'll say that I'm 42 but have used braid since 1993. Here in NH we have a lot of shallow ponds filled with lily pads and heavy grass. I've used 40-60 pound braid for all applications in those ponds-all using Palomar knots. I watched many a friend lose fish in the pads to mono. As others have said, brand isn't overly important. I went through miles of Fireline, now I use power pro. On most of my spinning rods I do braid to leader on all but my dropshot outfit, which is 8lb Silver thread. All of my other baitcasters have mono or copoly. There's a place for all if it.

I like my SLX, although I prefer the Fuego CT. That being said, it's a good little reel-I think it has found its home on a 5'6" rod with 10-12 pound line throwing small crankbaits. The SLX is a little noisy, maybe I can fix that when I clean and lube it in the offseason.

I have an old Falcon 5'6" medium glass rod that I dearly love. I put my Shimano SLX on it with 12lb test and I use it for topwaters and small crankbaits/squarebills. I hadn't used one in a really long time, but was pleasantly surprised at how it loaded up and tossed a baby torpedo. Yes, my wrist felt it, btw.

I use Yamamoto Flappin Hawgs or Hula grubs. Otherwise I use homemade trailers from a mold very similar to the Flappin Hawg. I like bulky and compact trailers.

I've found the best way to handle a surplus of soft plastics is to spend a pile of money on injectors and molds and melt them into something I will use-someday. ?

Dicks puts their Lews Carbon fire rods on sale for 39.99 a couple of times a year.

Make sure you get enough trailer for the boat. I see a lot of boat show setups with tiny trailers. I'm sure it's a cost thing, but three feet of unsupported boat and outboard is not good.

I fish right up until ice just over the border in NH. Don51 has you covered for baits, although I would add a jig and pig to that. I throw a lot of them in dying vegetation in November.

With that many variables, your best bet is trial and error. I usually put my favorite reel on the rod I intend to use the most and go from there.

I use braid with fluoro leaders on most of my spinning rods. I have one with mono (copoly to be exact-8lb Silver thread) that I use also. The people who say it doesn't work just echo what they hear from others, they more than likely don't have first hand experience.

I'm also in the cheap frog rod camp. I use a 7'3" Lew's Carbon fire heavy fast that I got for all of 39.99.

Maybe that's old thinking. 7 foot rods, cheap or expensive are a heck of a lot lighter than they once were. I know that I use longer rods than I did 20 years ago.